CSM graduate Wen Xing Lin demonstrates a machine created by himself and two other CSM students, George Jenkins and Edward Gesser III, to U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer during Hoyer’s visit to CSM May 9.

CSM graduate Wen Xing Lin demonstrates a machine created by himself and two other CSM students, George Jenkins and Edward Gesser III, to U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer during Hoyer’s visit to CSM May 9. [/caption]Wen Xing Lin, 18, of St. Leonard earned an associate degree in engineering, with a 4.0 GPA. He was also impressive as one member of the three-person Talons team, CSM’s competitive robotics team, which qualified to compete in the world championship April 19-22 in Louisville, Kentucky.

“The CSM Talons is the biggest reason I chose to attend CSM,” Lin said. A team member since July 2016, Lin said the team worked between 30 to 35 hours a week, six days a week, as it prepared for the world championship.

In addition to the chance to participate with the Talons, Lin noted several other strengths of the college. “The best part about attending CSM is its affordable cost and the small classroom setting. I really enjoy the close interaction with the professors,” he said. “It is so much easier to make friends at a community college like CSM since I am sharing multiple classes with a small group of students in my major. We also have a lot of freedom to meet with friends outside of college since we all live in the Southern Maryland area.”

Lin was awarded numerous scholarships to help fund his education at CSM. He received the Florence Truman Scholarship, American Legion Post 276 Scholarship, SoMdCAN scholarship and Esperanza Education Fund scholarships — more than $6,000 worth of assistance.
Lin plans to continue his education at the University of Maryland and aims to earn his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in robotics. “I would love to get an internship with NASA, developing the robotic arms that can be used to service space crafts and satellites without the presence of humans.”

Lin is celebrating more than his associate degree this spring. He took his citizenship test on Jan. 25 and officially became a United States citizen at a May 1 ceremony. “I feel like I am actually part of this community now,” he said.